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What kind of information materials are available?

Background · An Outline of U.S. Government: A Country of Many Governments CD · Columbia Encycl.: City Government · eJournal: Issues of Democracy - Democratic Local Government CD · National Association of Counties  · National Association of Towns and Townships · National League of Cities · Infoplease: Profiles of the 50 Largest Cities of the U.S. · eJournal: Issues of Democracy - State and Local Government: Adapting to Change CD · U.S. Conference of Mayors   The U.S. Bureau of the Census (part of the Commerce Department) has identified for the year 2002 no less than 87,900 local governmental units in the United States, including municipalities, counties, townships, school districts and special districts. More than three-quarters of the citizens of the United States now live in towns, large cities or their suburbs. The city directly serves the needs of the people, providing everything from police and fire protection to sanitary codes, health regulations, education, public transportation and housing. Cooperation with both state and federal organizations is essential. The county is a subdivision of the state, usually -- but not always -- containing two or more townships and several villages. A board of commissioners levies taxes, borrows and appropriates money, fixes the salaries of county employees, supervises elections, builds and maintains highways and bridges, and administers national, state and county welfare programs.

Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau: County and City Databook 2007 · University of Virginia Library: Geostat - County and City Data Books · Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas: Population in 2000 and Population Change from 1990 to 2000 · U.S. Census Bureau: State and County Quick Facts · U.S. Census Bureau: State and Metropolitan Area Data Book · U.S. Census Bureau: Statistical Abstract 2006: State and Local Government Finances and Employment CD   Link Lists · CityTownInfo.com · USA.gov: Local Governments · University of Michigan Documents Center: Local Governments and Politics · State and Local Government.Net · Library of Congress: State Government Information · Governing.com: State and Local Sourcebook - City Home Pages · Governing.com: State and Local Sourcebook - County Home Pages · USA CityLink Project · Yahoo > U.S. Government > Local Government

Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.

What kind of information materials are available? CD: These documents are available in fulltext format on the About the USA CD-ROM. Teachers: Request a copy for classroom use. L: Selected documents are available in German as well as other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.

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U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany /Public Affairs/ Information Resource Centers  Updated: February 2009